Parents thankful OLL won't be forced to close Diocese approves plan to keep school financially viable BY SETH MANDEL Staff Writer MILLTOWN - Our Lady of Lourdes School has a rich history, and thanks to the community's efforts, it has a future as well. The parochial school was on the verge of being closed this year due to the financial struggles of both the school and its parish. But parents, parishioners and residents mobilized this spring to come up with a plan to save the school. That plan was approved last week by the Diocese of Metuchen, which oversees the area's Catholic schools. "I congratulate these individuals whose plan not only addressed the needs of your school, but also your parish," wrote the Most Rev. Paul G. Bootkoski, bishop of the diocese, in a letter to Our Lady of Lourdes Church. "You have shown us that sacrifice and service are needed if we are to have viable and strong schools and churches." In March, diocese officials notified parents that the school, which opened in 1942 and consists largely of students from Milltown and North Brunswick, may be in its final year if it could not reverse its dire financial situation. The diocese gave the school until March 31 to formulate a plan that would enable the school and parish to raise enough revenue to stay open on a long-term basis. That's when more than 300 people volunteered to form subcommittees, hold meetings and put together a plan to address each issue facing the school, which included fund-raising for the parish and the school and dealing with dwindling enrollment. "We're just thrilled as we could be," said parent Tom Olson. "We're very grateful, both to the entire parish community and the parents at the school for all their hard work and their support, and we are also thankful to the diocese for giving us this opportunity. We're confident we can make it work, and we're looking forward to going forward." Superintendent of Schools Ellen Ayoub said what impressed her specifically was the way the parish and the school worked together to create a plan that would benefit both. "They really accepted the challenge," Ayoub said. "Once they discovered they had this problem, they took it on and worked, and the parish worked, and they worked really well together for the good of the children." Olson said the efforts were indicative of the community's diligent, unselfish commitment to each other and to the education of the children. "That's why we worked so hard, because it is a good community. It's like a family, and it's nice to know we can depend on everybody," Olson said. Diocese spokeswoman Joann Ward said overall the plan was an impressive one. Though some of it will have to be revised, Ward called it a solid foundation for moving forward. "It really was a very extensive, comprehensive plan, which included sections on academics and the finances, the marketing. So, there are a number of areas," Ward said. "The diocese will be working with the school on each of those areas." In his letter, Bootkoski said officials were heartened by the effort that led to the "recovery plan," and that the diocesan offices will work closely with school officials to help implement that plan. "It is my prayer that the enthusiasm and the energy that has been generated, as well as the hard work that has been generously given, will bear much fruit both for Our Lady of Lourdes School and parish," Bootkoski wrote. Olson said the community is happy to have a plan in place, open houses to be held and class registrations to organize. "They have accepted the plan, and they are now going to give us some assistance in carrying it out," Olson said. "It's great. Now we just have to get to work, but we're ready to do that." The process and resulting decision is similar to one made a year earlier, when the diocese reversed a plan to close the Corpus Christi School in South River after parents their rallied to keep the school open. Our Lady of Lourdes School is holding an open house May 21 from noon to 4 p.m. For more information on the open house or student registration, contact the school office at (732) 828-1951.